Northumbria Police has been recognised as one of the top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain.

The news, which was welcomed by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird, comes as it was revealed Northumbria Police ranked 85th in the 2015 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index – the first time the force has been ranked in the top 100.

The Workplace Equality Index i…s an effective way to measure organisations’ efforts to tackling discrimination and creating an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. Organisations participating are actively demonstrating commitment to sexual orientation equality.